Sen. Argall will be testifying on property tax legislation

Saturday, August 18, 2012

HARRISBURG – Senator David G. Argall, R-Schuylkill, announced that he will be testifying at the State Capitol on behalf of property tax legislation he sponsored.

The 13-member House Select Committee on Property Tax is scheduled to meet on Monday morning in the House Majority Caucus Room. House Resolution 774, sponsored by Rep. Tom Quigley, R-Montgomery, established the committee charged with studying tax revenues, assessments, school spending and other issues relating to the property tax in Pennsylvania.

Argall, who recently testified at a Senate Finance Committee public hearing on Senate Bill 1400, explained the burden property taxes place on residents throughout the state, and not limited to rural areas prone to higher property tax rates.

"With recent reassessment controversies in the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia areas, this issue has gained a lot of steam and generated a lot of public interest," said Argall, who sponsored the Property Tax Independence Act on behalf of thousands of constituents who support the complete elimination of school district property taxes. "We continue to fight for the complete death of the unfair and archaic way we fund our public schools. I am grateful for the opportunity to present the case of property tax elimination by shifting from property taxes to a higher sales and income tax to offset losses."

Along with Argall, the committee plans to hear from Reps. Seth Grove, R-York, and Dave Maloney, R-Berks, on other property tax reform-related proposals.

"We have different ideas on how to address this issue, but I believe the goal must be the entire elimination; we have tried to reform it in years past, but the message from my constituents is to drive a stake through the heart of the property tax beast and rid the state of this burdensome tax once and for all," said Argall.